Obituary of John L Imhoff, Washington County, Arkansas *********************************************************** Submitted by: Rosa Cline <clinefam@ritternet.com> Date: 17 Sep 2009 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** John L. Imhoff died on March 16, 2004 at the age of 82. He was born in Baltimore, MD on February 9, 1923 to John Imhoff and Elizabeth Franz. He grew up in the Baltimore area where he attended public schools graduating from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1940. He then earned a BSME in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University in 1945, a MSME Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1947 and a Ph.D in Industrial Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1971. Additional educational studies took place at the following: National Science Foundation-Science Faculty Fellowship at Stanford University ; National Science Foundation - Summer Industrial Dynamics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Nuclear Engineering Institute at the University of California - Berkeley. His professional experience included American Rolling Mill Corp. in Baltimore, MD (1940-1943); U.S. Naval Officer and Diplomatic Courier-European Theater (1945-47); Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota (1948-1951) and then Professor and Head of Industrial Engineering at the University of Arkansas (1952-1990). Since 1980, as an University Professor Emeritus, John Imhoff continued to teach part - time on global aspects of engineering and as a liaison for the Industrial Engineering Department Outreach program. While at the University of Arkansas, John help found the Department of Industrial Engineering; consulted extensively for corporations and the Arkansas state government; helped to establish and became Director of the U of A Productivity Center; established one the country?s first successful Master of Science Degrees in Operations Research; participated in the development of the Graduate Institute of Technology Program in Little Rock, AR.; helped develop the Master of Science in Operations Management program for Air Force bases in Blytheville and Jacksonville, AR and the Naval Air Station in Memphis, TN. and established and developed U of A student chapters of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and Alpha Pi Mu (National Student Honor Society). All of the above efforts resulted in an exceptional number of U of A engineering graduates who achieved prominence in industrial, commercial and educational professional careers. Also gratifying to John was the large number of IE alumni who have maintained close ties with the University and provided strong networking support. The Department he founded played an important role for many years, not only for industrial engineers but also for engineering graduates of all disciplines. After retiring as department head he devoted his efforts to full time teaching; the development of a U of A productivity center to assist in state economic development activities, developed a cooperative network in Arkansas with the Small Business Administration, conducted research in the U.S. and Europe on productivity enhancement activities of business and governmental units in all countries; was a founding member and officer of the National Productivity Network; a founding member of the Arkansas Center for Technology Transfer; Chairman and member of the U.S. Senate Productivity Award Boards for Senators Pryor and Bumpers and he was the founding member of the Arkansas Quality/Productivity Task Force which is now the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission. Arkansas productivity initiatives and ideas were later extended nationally by President Bill Clinton. During his active career, John was the recipient of numerous university and community awards. They include: University of Arkansas Distinguished Award in Teaching; Institute of Industrial Engineers Fellow Award; Engineering College Halliburton Award for Teaching Excellence; numerous Industrial Engineering Department Outstanding Teacher Awards; John L. Imhoff Distinguished Chair in IE established by the I.E. Alumni in 1983; Honorary member of the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering; Founding member of the University of Arkansas Teaching Academy; Duke University College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award; Who's Who in America; Who's Who in Engineering; American Men of Science; Who's Who in Education; founding member of the Ozark Society. John leaves behind a loving family plus many friends and students who will always remember two of his favorite quotes " Raison D' Etre!? (A reason to be!) and "A Votre" Service" (To serve others!). John is survived by his wife, Lois J. Imhoff, to whom he was married 57 years. John and Lois met at Duke University . Also a son, Dr. John Imhoff and wife Susan B. of Sea Island, GA., a daughter Karen E. Anderson and her husband Richard B. Anderson of Weston, CT and a son, Carl H. Imhoff and his wife Kristen S., of Richland, WA. He has five grandsons: John C. Anderson, John C. Imhoff, Daniel H. Imhoff, Kurt S. Imhoff and Robert C. Imhoff. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 2nd at Butterfield Trail Village starting at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his honor to the Fayetteville Public Library ? Read A Loud Collection or to the Dr. John L. Imhoff UofA Chair- Industrial Engineering. Arrangements are by Nelson-Beran Funeral Home and Crematory. DR. JOHN L. IMHOFF - MEMORIAL DONATIONS Dr. John L. Imhoff Chair of Industrial Engineering Send check to: Jim Harris University House 1002 West Maple Fayetteville, AR 72701 Checks payable to the University of Arkansas Foundation, Inc For further distribution to the Dr. John L. Imhoff Chair of Industrial Fayetteville Public Library Read A Loud Collection Send check to: Louise Schafer Fayetteville Public Library 401 W. Mountain St. Fayetteville, AR 72701 Checks payable to the Fayetteville Public Library For further distribution to the Read A Loud Collection Arrangements are by Nelson-Berna Funeral Home and Crematory of Fayetteville. A scan of his obituary from Morning News of Northwest Arkansas dated Fri April 1, 2005 may be found at http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/washington/obits/i/